PETA asks B J Medical College to stop experiments on live animals

This follows recommendations by the Medical Council of India (MCI) to medical colleges to adopt computer assisted models for training.

Though few medical colleges in Gujarat,like the Surat Medical College,have started opting for non-animal methods,others have voiced opposition to the move,saying it is impossible to teach anatomy and pharmacology to post-graduate students without live animal demonstration.

Dr Anuradha Srivastava from PETA India said: “Medical colleges now have the opportunity not only to spare animals,but also provide students with the most modern training methods available. According to PETA,many medical colleges across India are forced to continue conducting animal experiments and maintaining animal houses because of MCI’s regulatory requirements. With MCI’s approval to make animal houses optional,PETA expects medical colleges to opt for newer methods.”

Dr Jatin Buch,Head of the Department of the Rajkot-based Pandit Deendayal University,said: “ It is impossible to do investigative trials for any medicine if we don’t use animals. The optional non-animal methods may be fine for undergraduate students,but is a must for post-graduates. The pharmacology department will end up doing almost nothing in the end,as clinical trials on humans are controversial and now clinical trials on animals will also be termed controversial.”

B J Medical College Dean Dr Bharat Shah did not comment on the issue.

Deputy Dean Dr Pranay Shah said: “This is a recent development,otherwise it was must for medical colleges to opt for animal houses in pharmacology department ,according to MCI norms. It takes time to implement certain changes in policies.”

He added: “As state government colleges,we used to have animal house,whereas private colleges had symbolic charts and animal models due to non availability of specimens. Now,with the change in MCI policy,we will take some initiatives this academic session.”